I haven't been out to Helper since last summer, and with the number of tunnel motors rapidly dwindling I thought now might be a good time. If the four T-2s (5377, 5371, 5390, and 5401 - 40% of the remaining fleet) in Helper weren't enough by themselves, there was also a good chance that the Montrose local from Grand Junction to Delta would be running with a pair of Rio Grande GP40-2s - 3129 and 3097.

After a troubling start in a snowstorm Thursday night, Friday morning came off without a hitch - two Grandes, perfect sunlight, and a very interesting run to Delta with shots from all sorts of places I'd never discovered before. After the local had arrived in Delta and I'd photographed it to my satisfaction (and boredom - there's only so many photos you can take of a pair of geeps switching), I continued westward towards Helper.

On the way in to Wellington, I got a bit of a surprise - I actually managed to catch up with a Friday afternoon Dirt Train (the trash hauler between Salt Lake City and ECDC's landfill in Sunnyside, UT) near Sunnyside. I'd checked the branch somewhat on a whim, and found four headlights looking back at me - sure enough, a solid set of four Rio Grande T-2s dispatched from Helper to pick up a string of empties.

Saturday morning brought yet another Dirt Train - this time a loaded movement from Helper to Sunnyside, and again with all four tunnel motors up front. After minor problems with my truck chasing it down to Mounds, the af... (Continued)

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